The New York Times reports that the California Institute of Technology basketball team won its first conference game since 1985, beating nearby Occidental College 46-45. Caltech won by scoring the last nine points in a row, delighting the home crowd of 387 people! That victory broke a 310-game losing streak. Ouch! (Photo: One the buildings on the beautiful Caltech campus.)

Growing up only a few miles from both Caltech, I can vouch for the fact that some of the smartest people in the world go there. But, it seems, brilliance in math and science doesn’t necessarily translate into brilliance on the basketball court.

Now, if Caltech can only get its baseball team going. This team has lost 170 consecutive games, and 412 conference games. Double ouch!